The telegraph
Child killed in Peloton treadmill accident when CEO issues warning to parents
A child died in an accident involving a Peloton mat, prompting the head of the company to warn parents to keep babies away from the equipment. Peloton’s popularity grew last year, with more people turning to their home exercise products as they abandoned gym membership in the midst of the pandemic. John Foley, co-founder and chief executive of Peloton, sent an email to the owners of Tread + on March 18 to inform them of the incident. “I am contacting you today because I recently learned about a tragic accident involving a child and Tread +, resulting in an unthinkable death,” he wrote. “While we are aware of only a small group of incidents involving Tread + where children were injured, each one is devastating for all of us in Peloton, and our hearts are with the families involved.” Mr. Foley advised users to keep pets and children away from Peloton equipment and to store it safely when not in use. The company said it would not disclose further details, including the child’s age and location. The Tread +, which sells for around $ 4,256 (£ 3,000), is currently not for sale in the UK, however, a lighter and cheaper model is available for purchase. Peloton, whose stationary stationary bike has gained a cult following in recent years, launched the Peloton Tread in 2018 and then introduced the updated Tread + model last fall. Tread + has a slat belt that helps to lessen the impact on the body, while Tread has a more classic continuous running belt. The Tread + is part of a series of Peloton treadmills and bicycles, which has a screen that allows users to follow training videos and virtual exercises. Peloton’s shares fell more than 3% in New York trading on Thursday. About 25,000 children each year in the United States are injured in fitness equipment, of which 2,600 children, on average, end up in the emergency room due to treadmill accidents.